Bath tub

Abstract: A bath tub (1) is equipped with a bath panel (5) carried on a holder mechanism (6, 7), the holder mechanism being movable so that the bath panel (5) can be positioned between a normal position for screening the bath tub and a raised position for accessing the space beneath the bath tub (1).

Description: This invention relates to a bath tub and panel arrangement of the kind referred to in the preamble of claim 1 and to a bath panel arrangement for such a bath arrangement. It is known to provide a bath arrangement with a detachable bath panel along a side of the bath tub. However, with a conventional detachable bath panel, if it is desired to access the space behind the bath panel and under the bath tub, for example for tidying and cleaning purposes, it is necessary to completely detach the bath panel from the bath tub and to lay it aside. Because a bath side panel is typically fairly large and may be relatively heavy, it is difficult to lift the bath panel completely clear of the bath tub. Furthermore there is not always enough space for the removed bath panel which can easily hit the floor and/or walls of, or equipment in, the bathroom causing them damage. As a result, tidying up and cleaning behind the bath panel of a bath tub are in practice done too seldom. A known bath tub and panel arrangement of the kind referred to is disclosed in DE-A-4 009 921. This known bath arrangement allows the bath panel to be pivoted forward but does not allow the panel subsequently to be raised whilst still remaining attached to the holder mechanism. An object of the present invention is to provide a bath tub and panel arrangement comprising a bath tub and a bath panel which can be raised with some simple movements to a position that allows free access to the space beneath the bath tub. According to the present invention, there is provided a bath tub and panel arrangement as claimed in the ensuing claim 1. Because the bath panel is not completely detached from its holder mechanism but is only subjected to a restricted guided motion, it is easy to raise the bath panel to a tidying position and subsequently to bring it back to its normal screening position. Because the bath panel is all the time guided by its holder mechanism, there is no risk that the bath panel will cause damage in the bathroom, which can easily occur with conventional panels which have to be lifted completely clear of the bath tub and laid aside. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the holder mechanism comprises at least one, preferably two, arm assemblies which are pivotally mounted at their lower ends so that, by changing their angular position, the upper edge of the bath panel is moved outwardly from the bath tub. Because the outwards movement required for releasing the bath panel from the edge of the bath tub is relatively small, it is practical for the holder mechanism to comprise arms which are pivotable or tiltable about lower bearing points. The bearings may simply comprise plastics bearings, for example with a detachable pin forming the bearing shaft proper. It is also suitable to attach the arms of the holder mechanism to the nearest bath tub supporting foot or foot construction. If the arms of the holder mechanism cannot be attached directly to a foot of the bath tub, the bearing points of these arms may be arranged on a support structure that is attached to or receives support from a foot structure of the bath tub. Because an elongate bath tub has feet or a foot structure at both its opposite ends, it is suitable to arrange two bath panel supporting arms at, or close to, feet at opposite ends of, and along the same side of, the bath tub. The holder mechanism will then be stable and provide good guiding for the bath panel. The holder mechanism is preferably so arranged that the bath panel can be moved upwards by means of a guided sliding movement between elements of the holder mechanism or between the bath panel and the holder mechanism. Because the bath panel is usually made of plate material, e.g. plastics or metallic material, while the most suitable material for the holder mechanism is plastics material, it is convenient to arrange the arms of the holder mechanism in the form of two elements slidable in or against one another. Alternatively, the bath panel itself could be provided with slide shoes or the like which slide against the arms of the holder mechanism. However this embodiment is in practice less suitable. Suitably latching means, forming part of the holder mechanism or arranged between the bath panel and the holder mechanism, are arranged to releasably lock the bath panel in its raised position. The latching means may comprise a spring latch which, in a desired position, interengages with a locking slot or the like in the member that keeps the bath panel in its raised position. The latching means may also comprise a so-called alternating mechanism, which, by movement in a given direction, every second time provides a locking function and every other second time provides an unlocking function. In a bath tub according to the invention a conventional spring latch has been found to provide the most simple and also the most reliable solution. Such a latch mechanism may with advantage be combined with a member that restricts the motion of the upper edge of the bath panel in a direction outwardly from the bath tub. Such a restricting member is needed for easy control of the movement of the bath panel. The edge or rim of a bath tub is often relatively broad and has an inverted channel or U-form so that a laterally limited space is formed under the usually plane upper part of the edge of the bath tub. This space is limited inwardly by the side of the bath tub itself and outwardly by a short downwardly extending flange at the outer side of the bath tub edge. A member that restricts the outwards movement of the bath panel may be formed by an arm, the upper end of which moves in the space just described under the edge of the bath tub. If this arm is somewhat flexible and is equipped with a protrusion or a groove which can perform a latching function in cooperation with a corresponding groove or protrusion in a part connected to the bath panel, a latching function is automatically achieved if the latch member is made to flexibly engage the part that is to be latched. Then the bath panel needs only to be lifted up and the latching function is automatically activated when the bath panel reaches the desired position. For releasing the latching function, the bath panel needs to be pulled outwards against the flexible force of the latch member. The upper part of the latch member is prevented from moving outwards by the outside flange of the bath tub edge and the latch member is pulled out of its latching position. The bath panel can then be pushed down to its normal position and moved inwards against the bath tub, In this way two functions may be combined in a convenient manner. By arranging, in the holder mechanism of the bath panel, a spring or some other member that at least partly compensates for the weight of the bath panel, the advantage is obtained that the bath panel does not reach its lowest position with too much force. At the same time the spring or the like may be used to provide an upwardly directed spring locking force to the bath panel that maintains the upper edge of the bath panel in the desired position at the edge of the bath tub whilst allowing this securing force to be easily overcome by pulling outwards. The invention also relates to a bath panel arrangement for bath tubs. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, only, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a part of a bath tub and panel arrangement according to the invention comprising a bath tub with a bath panel in its normal position; Figure 2 schematically shows the same cross-sectional view as Figure 1, but with the bath panel in a raised position. In the drawings there is shown a bath tub 1 positioned in a bathroom. The bath tub is supported by four feet 2, the height position of which can be adjusted. The upper body portion 3 of each foot has, on the side of the bath tub 1 facing outwardly into the room, a bearing point 4 for a bath panel 5 of the bath tub. The bath tub 1 may be of any suitable shape but will typically be of generally rectangular form having two long sides and two short ends. Normally such a bath tub 1 is positioned with one of its sides against a wall of the room. In this case the bath panel 5 comprises a side panel for the bath tub 1 and is positioned in front of a side of the bath tub 1 facing into the room. At each of the two feet 2 facing outwardly into the room, a holder mechanism is pivotally journalled on a pin mounted at the bearing point 4 and supports the bath panel 5. Each holder mechanism comprises two bars 6 and 7 of plastics material, which are slidably attached to each other with the inner bar 7 turnably journalled at its lower end at the bearing point 4 and the outer bar 6 carrying the bath panel 5 by means of upper and lower fixing members 8. Between the bar 6 and the bar 7 of each of the two bar pairs, there is arranged a pressure spring 9 which in the lowermost position of the outer bar 6 provides an upwardly directed spring load to the bath panel 5. The inner bar 7 is suitably of channel shape having outwardly turned side flanges received between pairs of inwardly turned claws on the outer bar. When it is required to raise the bath panel 5, a grip 10 is pulled outwardly so that the upper edge of the bath panel 5 is moved outwards. A catch 11 adjacent each grip 10 and with an inclined engagement surface is moved against and beneath the lower inwardly turned flange 12 of the bath tub edge as the bath panel 5 is moved outwards, the flange forcing the catch 11 and the bath panel 5 to move slightly downwards against the force of the spring 9. As is apparent from Figure 2, the outward motion of the bath panel 5 takes place by turning of the holder mechanism at the bearing points 4 only to a position where the outer bars 6 can pass upwardly past the edge of the bath tub. This outwards pivoting motion is restricted adjacent each grip 10 by an arm 13 which, when the bath panel 5 is moved outwards, engages the flange 12 of the bath tub edge. When the bath panel reaches its out-turned position, it is possible, by lifting from the grip 10, to pull the bath panel and the outer bars 6 upwardly into the position shown in Figure 2. In this raised position, the bath panel is automatically locked by a protrusion 14 in each of the outer bars 6 which during the latter stages of the upward movement, forces the somewhat flexible arm 13 slightly backwards before entering a locking groove 15 in the arm 13. Because the bath panel is retained in this raised position, it is easy to gain access to the space beneath the bath tub 1, e.g. for tidying up and cleaning. When it is desired to release the bath panel 5 from its raised position, the panel 5 is pulled slightly outwards, whereby the flange 12 prevents the arm 13 from also moving outwards so that the arm flexibly disengages from the protrusion 14. The bath panel 5 and the outer bars 6 may then be released, whereby a possibly careless release is damped by the springs 9, which also give the flexible locking function that is needed in order to allow the locking catches 11 to pass in under the flange 12 to the position shown in Figure 1. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described, but several variations and modifications thereof are feasible within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims: A bath tub and panel arrangement including a bath tub (1), a movable bath panel (5) and a holder mechanism carrying the bath panel (5) and turnable about an axis in fixed relation to the bath tub (1), characterised in that the arrangement includes means for maintaining connection of the bath panel (5) to the holder mechanism during movement of the bath panel and in that said holder mechanism includes release means (10-13) for releasing an upper edge of the bath panel (5) for movement from an inner position to a folded out outer position laterally outside the edge of the bath tub (1), and lifting means for restricted guided raising and lowering of the bath panel (5) between said outer position and a raised position outwardly of the edge of the bath tub (1) and giving free access to space beneath the bath tub (1). A bath tub and panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the holder mechanism comprises at least one, preferably two, arm assemblies (6,7) which are attached at their lower ends and which, by changing their angular positions, allow the upper edge of the bath panel (5) to be moved between said inner and outer positions. A bath tub and panel arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said lifting means includes guide means which allow upwards movement of the bath panel (5) by means of a guided sliding motion either between elements of the holder mechanism or between the bath panel (5) and the holder mechanism. A bath tub and panel arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that latching means (14,15) are provided either as part of the holder mechanism or arranged between the bath panel (5) and the holder mechanism for releasably locking the panel in its raised position. A bath tub and panel arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the release means includes a mechanism (13) for restricting the motion at the upper edge of the bath panel (5) in a direction outwardly from the bath tub (1). A bath tub and panel arrangement according to any one the preceding claims, characterised in that the holder mechanism includes a spring (9) or another member arranged to at least partially compensate the weight of the bath panel (5) and preferably also to provide a resilient biasing force for a latch mechanism keeping the bath panel (5) in its normal attached position in relation to the bath tub (1). A bath tub and panel arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the holder mechanism includes two elements slidable relative to one another, one of said elements being fixed in the slide direction relative to the bath tub (1) and the other of said slide elements being fixed relative to the bath panel (5). A bath tub and panel arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the holder mechanism is attached to, or receives support from, at least one foot structure (2,3) supporting the bath tub (1). A bath tub and panel arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bath panel (5) is a side panel positioned along one side of the bath tub (1). A bath panel arrangement for a bath tub (1), comprising a support structure for the bath tub (1), a holder mechanism turnable relative to the support structure about an axis, and a movable bath panel (5) carried by the holder mechanism, characterised in that the panel arrangement includes means for maintaining connection of the bath panel to the holder mechanism during movement of the bath panel (5) and in that the holder mechanism includes release means (10-13) for releasing an upper edge of the bath panel for movement from an inner position to a folded out outer position and lifting means for restricted guided raising and lowering movement of the bath panel between said outer position and a raised position.

Inventors: BERGDAHL MATS, BERGDAHL, MATS
Applicants: IDO KYLPYHUONE OY
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A47K3
IPC codes: A47K3